NZ Equestrian News Roundup

Overseas, a nail biting finish to the third and final day of competition in the teams event at the 2012 International Classique in South Africa saw the Kiwi riders come out on top.

With the Australians sitting on seven points, New Zealand on five and South Africa on four, the Kiwis had their work cut out for them to catch up to the Aussies.

Young riders Molly Buist-Brown, Will Moffet and Maddy Bult all jumped clear in the first round to secure the early lead and a bonus point for New Zealand. After the second round New Zealand and Australia were tied for first on nine points each and two riders from each team were to jump off to decide the winner. Both Kiwi riders jumped clean to secure the win for New Zealand, a fantastic achievement.

In dressage news, the New Zealand team still leads Zone 9 FEI World Dressage Challenge by less than 1%, on a score of 198.696 from Hong Kong, who go into second place on 198.100, ahead of the Philippines.

Andrea Bank still holds the quinella in the Prix St Georges on Doringcourt and Northern Fortuous, Nicola French retains the lead in the Advanced section, while Jacqui Winspear concedes the top Medium score to Xiao Guia from China. Sheena Ross (Elementary) sits in second behind Mikee Jaworski (Philippines), Simone Kann is still ahead in the Adult Preliminary and Junior Riders Rebecca Donovan and Danielle Vollebregt still lead the way in the Elementary and Preliminary for riders aged 12 to 15 years.

On the showjumping circuit, Robert Steele and Gospel won the Grand Prix at the Wellington Horowhenua Showjumping Championships held at Foxton over the weekend. Fifteen combinations took on the course, with five jumping clear in the first round to go through to the jump off.

Steele and Gospel were the only combination to leave all the rails up in the jumpoff. Opiki’s Lucy Akers and Cortaflex Tinapai managed to post a quicker time, but one rail down saw them take second. Luke Dee and Ombudsman were third.

Dannevirke’s Logan Massie and Kiwi Ludo won the young rider class and Te Awamutu’s Melanie Weal on Hopeful Illusion were victorious in the pony grand prix.

Elsewhere, Jake Lambert recently won his first horse grand prix at the Taranaki Showjumping Group’s show aboard Quality NZPH.

Lambert was one of just three from 11 starters to go through to the jump-off. The 19-year-old full time rider from Cambridge was first to go and threw down the gauntlet for the two following – Massie on Kiwi Ludo and Catherine Cameron (Cambridge) on Lights Out.

Lambert flew home clean and clear in 39.16 seconds. Massie did his best but came up just short, stopping the clock at 39.28 seconds. Cameron took a rail and finished in third spot.

In the young rider class Jamie Thurlow (Waverley) took the honours aboard Clifton Ali while Stratford’s Laura Hutterd and Spot U Later were winners of the pony grand prix.

And it was a trifecta for the Wilson sisters in the horse grand prix at the Egmont A and P, with Amanda and Showtym Viking winning, ahead of older sister Vicki who was second with Ngahiwi Showtym Premier and third with Wurlitzer.

Tim Myers on Pick Me NZPH won the young rider and Weal on Hopeful Illusion once again picked up the win in the pony grand prix class.

The two shows were held back to back over three days at the Egmont A and P Showgrounds in Hawera.